Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences

Who is the course for?

The course is aimed at anyone with existing Undergraduate experience (a degree or FHEQ level 5 qualification) and who wishes to take their individual research interests further out of general interest or in preparation for Postgraduate study.

Structure of the programme

The Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences is the second part of a two-year Advanced Diploma programme. It is expected that applicants for the course will have successfully completed the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice, however it may be possible to take the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences as a standalone course depending on previous academic qualifications. Separate course fees apply for both courses.

Students who successfully complete both years of the programme will be awarded the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice in the Arts/Sciences worth 120 credits at FHEQ level 6.

What will I be studying?

During the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences you will work directly with a subject-specialist supervisor on an independent research project of 10,000-12,000 words.

Subject specialisms to be supported in 2023-24:

• Archaeology
• Coaching
• Creativity Theory
• Education Studies
• English Literature
• Film
• History of Art and Visual Culture
• History
• Natural Sciences (predominantly life sciences)
• Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
• Politics, International Relations and International Studies 
• Social Sciences (predominantly Sociology and Politics)

If your chosen research specialism is not listed above, please do still get in touch with the Course Director to discuss whether your research interest can be supported.

The course is taught through 2 day schools and 3 hours of individual supervision in each of the 3 termly units and is organised in the following structure:

Unit 1 – Michaelmas term 2023

Day school 1 All students on course to attend remotely (Induction)

Remote teaching sessions – 18 October 2023 1-5pm GMT

Supervision 1 

Supervision 2

Supervision 3

Unit 2 – Lent term 2024  17 January 2024  1-5pm GMT

Day school 2 - All students on course to attend remotely (Student presentations)

Remote teaching sessions - TBC

Supervision 4 

Supervision 5

Supervision 6

Unit 3 – Easter term 2024

Supervision 7 

Supervision 8

Supervision 9 

Supervision dates are arranged individually between supervisor and student with the suggested format being 3 x 1 hour supervisions per termly unit.

Please note that credit awarded by the Institute can in some cases be transferred into the degree programmes of other higher education providers. However, the amount of credit which can be transferred into degree programmes varies from institution to institution and is always at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Entry requirements

The Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences (FHEQ level 6) is designed for those students who have successfully completed the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice, however it may be possible to take the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences as a standalone course depending on previous academic qualifications.

Applicants with evidence of the following will be considered:

• Successful completion of the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice.
• A relevant FHEQ level 6 qualification (i.e. an undergraduate degree) in a relevant cognate subject
• Academic study relevant to your proposed subject specialism, i.e. for students seeking to specialise in an Arts subject the above qualification should be in an Arts-related subject, e.g. English, History, Philosophy

If you have none of the above but feel that this Advanced Diploma course is right for you please contact the Course Director: Dr Alexander Carter (ac991@cam.ac.uk) in advance of making an application. Acceptance onto this course will be entirely at the discretion of the Institute.

One of the criteria for a successful application for this course is the availability of a suitable supervisor. Please be aware that the course is taught at university level (FHEQ 6) and you should be able to read, write and speak English fluently.

English language requirement: If English is not your first language, you need to be able to prove you meet the University of Cambridge English language requirements on application. Please refer to our English language requirements pages for further information.

Technical requirements 

For the 2023-2024 Academic Year this course is being taught remotely. This means there will be no face-to-face teaching and you will not need to be present in person in Cambridge, although there is an expectation that you will attend synchronous teaching sessions. The course content will be delivered, and the learning outcomes met, through the use of video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). 

You will therefore need to have access to: 

• the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device.  
• speakers or headphones in order to hear any pre-recorded material 
• a webcam and microphone for any interactive sessions which may be available 

Once you are logged into the VLE you can familiarise yourself with the learning environment. There is also guidance about how to access course materials and activities.

The fee for the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences is £4,090. This covers supervision and tuition. You can pay in two ways:

1. in full on enrolment by credit or debit card 
2. in three equal instalments by credit or debit card: the first on enrolment, the second on 1 January and the third and final instalment on 1 April. The exact dates will be confirmed in the student’s individual booking details.

Please note, your place on the course is not secured until payment is received by the Institute of Continuing Education accompanied by any necessary documentation, i.e. proof of English language proficiency.

ICE Cancellations and Refunds policy 

Information on sources of funding, bursaries and Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) 

This course will require a minimum number of students in order to run. Applicants for this course will be notified one week after the application deadline if the course is not going to be running at which point students will be offered to transfer their application to another course or receive a refund of the fees they have paid so far (please see our ICE Cancellations and Refunds policy). 

Applying

Please apply via the link at the top of this page. Your application will be assessed and you will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are offered a place, you will receive instructions as to how to register and pay. Please note that places are limited and on a first-come first-served basis. 

You will need to submit a research proposal as part of your application. For applicants that have not studied on the Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice a Curriculum Vitae will also be required.

Additional information required on the application form

In the “Education” box please list all your qualifications and education background starting with the highest level qualification gained (title/level/date). You will be asked to give more detail about qualifications and experience relating to your chosen field of interest in your Curriculum Vitae.

In the “Personal Statement” box please include a statement of around 500 words in length explaining why you wish to enrol on the course and how it fits into your long term career plans.

Documents to submit with your application

Research Proposal (ALL APPLICANTS)

This should be no longer than a side of A4 (roughly 500 words) and include:

1. The working title.  This can change later on, but it should, at this stage, describe the project you hope you research.  The title, like the project, should be problem-oriented rather than descriptive.
2. Introduction / rationale.  The proposal should start with at least a couple of paragraphs of discussion of the subject of the dissertation.  It should include a brief outline of the main debates as they currently stand, and should state how your research will relate to the wider literature / debates.
3. Research questions. You should follow this with your key research question. This can be broken down into three sub-questions or steps which will make the key question easier to answer.
4. Research methodology. A description of how you will attempt to answer the questions that you have set yourself. What sources will you examine? What is available? Your methodology should be directly related to your research questions.
5. Bibliography

Curriculum Vitae (Only required for applicants who have not completed the Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice)

Please include in your CV the following:

1. the full list of your qualifications and/or prior study within your chosen field of interest. This list should include the name of the course provider, the course dates, the module/unit titles studied, the qualification awarded and the mark/grade achieved.
2. relevant information about your career and experience to date. This could include: membership of relevant academic societies, any non-credit courses you might have taken relevant to your chosen field of interest, any relevant practical work, any relevant work experience or volunteering relevant to your chosen field of interest.

Some applicants may also be asked to provide additional information or a writing sample in order to help assess applications. If you are asked to submit a piece of writing but have nothing prepared the Course Director will be able to set you a question to answer in a short essay.

You may also be asked for a personal interview (usually remotely rather than in person) so the Course Director can discuss your application with you.

Acceptance onto the course will be entirely at the discretion of the Institute.

Closing date for applications

Applications for this course can be received until midday (12 noon) on Thursday 13 July 2023. All applications will be considered together after the application closing date. If you are offered a place on the course we will ask you to complete your booking within a limited time period and to pay the fees or if paying fees by instalments, the first instalment of fees to secure your place.

You are strongly recommended to discuss your research plans with the Course Director: Dr Alexander Carter (ac991@cam.ac.uk) prior to making your application. Applications close to the deadline without prior discussion might lead to you being asked to apply for the following intake instead.